Hanes opposes buying Rickwood

Hanes opposes -
a'HAM news 1 Jl MAR 13c
buying Rickwood
BY LOU ISAACSON
News staff writer
Mayor Arthur J. Hanes said to
day he still favors building a new
high school football stadium in
stead of buying Rickwood Field.
Hants met with owner Albert
Belcher over the weekend.
Hanes said Belcher is asking
The Birmingham Park and
$25,000 more than the Park Board
Recreation Board last Wednes
has available "and 1 don't know
day voted unanimously to enter:
where the extra money would
negotiations to buy the ll-acre
come from."
facility which has approximately:
, The mayor said Belcher told
10.0W seats.
him he will sell the property but
Hanes. who was not at the
that he wants the right to rent it
meeting of the board, said be
would not have voted to buy the
field.
fessional baseball return to Birmingham.
"I still say we can built a
About $50,000 will be needed to
convert Rickwood into a football
and have the advantage of a
new stadium besides," Hanes
BEN CHAPMAN, chairman of
said.
THE PARK BOARD has $350.-
said purchase of the field would
000 in 1960 bond issue funds with
"represent a good investment for
which to buy Rickwood or build
jthe future." MAR I 8 1963
a new stadium.
Chapman recommended that the
Belcher. Rickwood owner, said
'board enter negotiations with
be wants $375,000 for the facility.
Belcher after an advisory opinion
Hanes said "I believe a stadium
from Atty. Gen. Richmond Flow
with a seating capacity of be
ers that the $350,000 in bond
tween 6,000-7.000 can be built for
about $30 per seat."
Board Chairman James A.
A meeting was held over
Downey said "purchase of Rick
the weekend between Hanes.
wood will answer our problem
Belcher and at least two ether
for the present, but we wHl still
members of the Park Board.
need a new facility in the east-
"We had a fine meeting with
era section of the city."
Mr. Belcher, but there are certain
He said the board has long been
things I want done before any
hampered by the problem of nol
purchase is consummated." Hanes locating the high school stadium
-id in a residential W*l NEWS
"I think we are taking a step
"FIRST I WANT an appraisal tin the right direction if we pur-
ade of the property, because I ichase Rickwood. which may never
ive a report that it is not worth j again be available for such a low
e asking price. Ipriee," Downey said.
■es to determine if they
e or not and if any sizable
of repair work will have

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Hanes opposes -
a'HAM news 1 Jl MAR 13c
buying Rickwood
BY LOU ISAACSON
News staff writer
Mayor Arthur J. Hanes said to
day he still favors building a new
high school football stadium in
stead of buying Rickwood Field.
Hants met with owner Albert
Belcher over the weekend.
Hanes said Belcher is asking
The Birmingham Park and
$25,000 more than the Park Board
Recreation Board last Wednes
has available "and 1 don't know
day voted unanimously to enter:
where the extra money would
negotiations to buy the ll-acre
come from."
facility which has approximately:
, The mayor said Belcher told
10.0W seats.
him he will sell the property but
Hanes. who was not at the
that he wants the right to rent it
meeting of the board, said be
would not have voted to buy the
field.
fessional baseball return to Birmingham.
"I still say we can built a
About $50,000 will be needed to
convert Rickwood into a football
and have the advantage of a
new stadium besides," Hanes
BEN CHAPMAN, chairman of
said.
THE PARK BOARD has $350.-
said purchase of the field would
000 in 1960 bond issue funds with
"represent a good investment for
which to buy Rickwood or build
jthe future." MAR I 8 1963
a new stadium.
Chapman recommended that the
Belcher. Rickwood owner, said
'board enter negotiations with
be wants $375,000 for the facility.
Belcher after an advisory opinion
Hanes said "I believe a stadium
from Atty. Gen. Richmond Flow
with a seating capacity of be
ers that the $350,000 in bond
tween 6,000-7.000 can be built for
about $30 per seat."
Board Chairman James A.
A meeting was held over
Downey said "purchase of Rick
the weekend between Hanes.
wood will answer our problem
Belcher and at least two ether
for the present, but we wHl still
members of the Park Board.
need a new facility in the east-
"We had a fine meeting with
era section of the city."
Mr. Belcher, but there are certain
He said the board has long been
things I want done before any
hampered by the problem of nol
purchase is consummated." Hanes locating the high school stadium
-id in a residential W*l NEWS
"I think we are taking a step
"FIRST I WANT an appraisal tin the right direction if we pur-
ade of the property, because I ichase Rickwood. which may never
ive a report that it is not worth j again be available for such a low
e asking price. Ipriee," Downey said.
■es to determine if they
e or not and if any sizable
of repair work will have